1.5 Drivers of AMU

AMU and practices in food-producing animal systems are influenced by human behaviour, as shown in Figure 3. Information about the drivers and motivations for using antimicrobials in animal production systems can be helpful in planning action to reduce AMU. The details vary in different settings.

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Figure 3 Drivers influencing AMU.
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The figure shows a central question ‘What can influence antibiotic use?’ Around it are four categories of influences: biological factors; practices and behaviour; resources; and economic factors.

Biological factors include mortality and disease, characteristics of the animal and the pathogen, and environmental conditions.

Practices and behaviour include access to information, education, training and awareness of AMU/AMR; role and advice from farmers, peers, community, service providers, antimicrobial sellers and the pharma industry; farm practices, such as production practices, technology adoption, biosecurity, water and waste management ; and willingness to comply with rules and regulations on antimicrobials.

Resources include human resources and their capacity for clinical advice; diagnostics capacity, monitoring and surveillance; the capacity to enforce rules and regulations; and management advice.

Economic factors include the availability of capital to invest in biosecurity, good management practices and technology; the market: price of inputs and outputs; and the affordability and access to antimicrobials and alternatives.

Figure 3 Drivers influencing AMU.

Activity 2: Understanding and reflecting on AMU in your own setting

Timing: Allow about 20 minutes

Understanding AMU in your own setting

  1. Choose a food animal production system you are familiar with; for example, broiler chickens, shrimp or dairy cattle. Draw a simple diagram of this production system, outlining the production stages needed to grow the animals to food age, and add inputs to the system such as food, water and medicines.
  2. Indicate on your diagram where antimicrobials might be used in the system.

Note that you will need to refer this diagram in later activities.

Discussion

Figure 4 is an example of a section of a tilapia production system. There are three production phases, and antimicrobials are used in all three stages of production.

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Figure 4 A section of a tilapia production system.
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A flow chart representing an aquaculture system. A box represents the hatchery with an arrow showing movement of fry to the nursery pond and then movement of fingerlings to the grow out ponds. Arrows represent movement of antimicrobials from antimicrobial sellers to both the hatchery and the nursery/grow out ponds. Arrows from the feed factory represent the flow of feed to both stages of production. Red diamonds represent points where antimicrobials might be used and are present in all three stages of production.

Figure 4 A section of a tilapia production system.
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Activity 3: Decision-making about antimicrobials in your setting

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

How are decisions made about AMU in your setting? Who is involved in decision-making? Are diagnostic tests used to identify the pathogen before using antimicrobials? Write your answer in the space below.

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Discussion

Your answer will be specific to your setting. Ideally, a qualified animal health professional such as a veterinary surgeon should be involved in decisions about AMU. Bacterial infection should be confirmed and the bacteria would be tested for AMR before using these drugs, but this type of laboratory testing may not be undertaken in your setting.

1.4 AMU in companion animals

2 AMR in animal food systems